The ‘Home from Home’ project aims to explore the legacies of pioneering British Nigerians in the UK and their impact on society. The project highlights and celebrates British Nigerian contributions to the cultural, political, educational, artistic, spiritual, and sporting life of Britain and London, in particular. In this interview we feature Adenike Adebiyi, Founder of Bounce Black.
Adenike Adebiyi, popularly known as Nikki, is a dedicated advocate for mental health awareness and social justice, driven by her own journey of overcoming adversity while building a career. Founding Bounce Black, a social enterprise and consultancy, to address the support and resources lacking in her own experiences, Nikki has become known for her unwavering commitment to championing the needs of Black professionals in the workplace. Through her platform, she speaks truth to power and collaborates with organizations to create inclusive environments where Black individuals can thrive. Committed to making meaningful change, Nikki fearlessly navigates the intersection of race, mental health, and social mobility, embodying the ethos of “good trouble” in her advocacy efforts.
What does “Home From Home” mean to you?
“Home From Home”, to me, signifies all the ways I try to maintain a connection to land on which I was born but to which I have not been able to return since I left age four or five. It refers to the ways I have been brought up with values and principles native to a land other than the one in which I reside. It refers to the recognition that I am a member of the diaspora of a nation that carries much weight, both in terms of what we have to offer to the world and what we have to heal within ourselves. Although at times I feel physically disconnected from my birth nation, I know that I carry her with me in my innermost being. My voice, my values, my steadfastness and my ingenuity are an inheritance from a rich, wonderful and complex ancestry. Home is in my DNA, and I carry it with me wherever I go.
How do you celebrate your Nigerian heritage?
I celebrate my Nigerian heritage by recreating my homeland through my five senses. I like to savour the taste and smell of classic Nigerian dishes like smoky party Jollof rice, ayamase and pounded yam and ogbono soup. I enjoy immersing myself in the sound waves of Afrobeats and Nigerian worship songs to lift my mood at the start of and throughout my day. I experience joy and pride when I wear and caress my asoebi with dazzling and fitted Ankara prints that make me look and feel like the royalty in my name. Whether at a hall party or at home—the food, the style, the vibe… owambe!
What does being “British Nigerian” mean to you?
Being British Nigerian means that I am straddling multiple worlds, thus realities, at any one time. ‘Black British’ identity, a blend of African and Caribbean cultures, is as rich and diverse as ‘Nigerian’ identity, an amalgamation of numerous ethnic groups. As ’Nigeria’ is itself a construct of the British Empire, being Black British Nigerian is a source of pride and grief. I acknowledge the relative ease with which I can move through parts of society and the world because of my accent and my passport, a privilege which comes with great responsibility. Yet the shadow of race-based oppression, slavery and colonialism lingers at every turn, which means the same identity that affords me some benefits at times denies me others on account of my deep brown hue. Black British Nigerian identity, therefore, is one rooted in the vibrancy of our ancestors who were accounted for, and the resilience they showed in the face of the empires and systems that tried to destroy them.
How do you stay connected to your identity?
I stay connected to my ethnic identity by staying close to others who are connected to theirs. Whether through the elders in my family, or friends who share my cultural background, I surround myself with people who want to keep close from afar. Practically, this looks like attending events that magnify the glory of Nigerian cultures, listening to music that reminds me of where I come from, and watching films that show the best of who I come from. Most importantly, I keep my roots alive in my tongue. No matter who laughs at my attempts to speak it, Yoruba belong to me as much as I belong to Yoruba. The language literally speaks for and to me through my names. My first name Adenike means ‘the crown is to be pampered, cherished and taken care of’, and my last name Adebiyi means ‘the crown gave birth to this one’. From birth I have known that I hail from a rich heritage that commands recognition and respect, and I cherish that deeply.
What does culture mean to you?
Culture is shared habits, innovation, memories and motion. It is coming together to create, recreate and preserve. Culture is legacy, tradition, folklore and history. It is coming together to share, reshare and inculcate. For better, for worse, our culture is the fruit of our co-labouring. I am proud of the beauty we are capable of, and I am hopeful about the shortcomings we can undo.
What do you imagine the future of the British Nigerian Community to look like in the next few years based on your industry?
I operate in the mental health and social impact space. So, from my vantage point, I envision a future of healthier Nigerian families and communities, in which building generational wellbeing is prioritised as much as generational wealth. I see my generation being brave and confronting their traumas so that we do not pass them on. I see selfish individualism fizzling out and giving way to wholesome relational villages based on mutual care and recognition. I see Nigerians continuing their long running streak of excellence in that which pushes our nation and its diaspora forward in the highest of human ideals. In all things love, truth, righteousness and courage, may it be proven that Naija no dey carry last.
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